Winding machine



March 12, 1935;

E. J. ABBOTT WINDING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 15, 1951 Iflventon Edward J-A 55062,

March 12, 1935.

E. J. ABBOTT WVINDING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 15, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 lvzveraim,

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- March 12, 1935. E, J ABQOTT v 1,993,910

WINDING MACHINE I Original Filed Jan. 15,1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Invent 0 7 Edward .Jl/l bott,

March 12,1935. --E. J. ABBOTT ,9 ,9

' WINDING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. l5, 1 7 Shets-Sheet '4 Invade Ed 0 r]: 56 if .2? @W M 94 kz's At ya.

March 12, 1935. EIJ. ABBOTT 1,993,910

WINDING MACHINE v Original Filed Jan. 15, 1951 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 five' t i'dwardJ March 12, 1935.

E. J. ABBOTT WINDING MACHINE Original Filed Jan 15, 1931 sh ets-sh a a i //J M a rch12,1935. I E ABBTT 1,993,910

WINDING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 15, 1931 v 7 s -sh '7 a P l3 la/ I m/ezz tor: v

by EdZafd 'cljbzztt Patented Mar. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE WINDING MACHINE Edward J. Abbott, Wilton, N. H., assignor to Abbott Machine Company, Wilton, N. 11., a corporation of New Hampshire 23 Claims.

Thisapplication relates to machines adapted to wind yarn or other strand or analogous material, and is a division of application Serial No. 508,868, now Patent No. 1,964,715, issued July '3, 1934 for Strand manipulating mechanism, filed January 15, 1931 and relates to and claims certain of the novel features of my copending application Serial No. 542,010 for Strand manipulating machines, filed June 4, 1931. The invention particularly is applicable to machines such as described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,609,639 to Abbott and Reissue No. 18,310 to Abbott and Abbott relating to multiple winding machines in which the winding packages are caused to travel in a procession about the machine to facilitate the operations of dofiing and donning and of supervision of the winding operation generally.

The machines of said patents utilize a closed path of travel for the winding packages in the form of opposite straight runs connected by semi-circular end sections, and include long tractor rolls coextensive with the straight portions only of the path of travel. In passing around the semi-circular end portions of the machines, the winding packages are, of course, out of contact with the tractor rolls. of operation thus involves as incidental to the desired circulatory travel of the winding packages, the expense of construction of long tractor rolls accurately aligned as to length and accurately mounted in bearings suitable to such long rolls, the limitation of winding surface speed to such values as are consistent with the avoidance of undue vibration of the long tractor rolls, and the provision 'of mechanism adaptedto remove each winding package from one rotating tractor-roll and then place the package upon the other tractor roll. In addition, whether or not operating conditions render it desirable, winding must be suspended as to each package traversing either semi-circular end of the machine. It might often be desirable merely-from the standpoint of increased production to continue winding while the packages were passing around one end of the machine, but reliance upon straight tractor rolls as -package drivers is obviously inconsistent with such driving on semicircular portions of. the machine.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide a multiple machine adapted to wind during travel of the strand packages, but

free from many of the limitations hitherto imposed on machines by the use of the aforesaid long tractor rolls. Particularly the invention This mode can avoid certain periods of idleness of packages at either semi-circular end of the machine. In addition, maintenance and repair of the machine are facilitated, and requirements of exactness of construction are rendered less difiicult.

The invention will be explained by describing by way of example only, a machine according to the present invention and two types of traveling winding carriers adapted to form part thereof.

For brevity of description, certain of the ele-.

ments illustrated in certain of the figures of the drawings are herein explained by reference to similar elements which are described with particular reference to other figures of the drawings. In general, corresponding reference characters are utilized to indicate corresponding parts in the various figures of the drawings, and corresponding parts in the several embodiments of the invention havein many instances been described specifically but once.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation (with certain parts broken away) of one end of a framework defining a circulatory path of travel for the circulatory unit carriers of the machine, and equipped with driving connections suitable ,for the unit carriers illustrated in certain other, figures of the drawings;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view showing a typical arrangement of connections for holding and moving the unit carriers in relation to the guideway of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section ilustrating a traveling carrier having winding mechanism thereon;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the mechanism of Fig. 5; v

Fig. 7. includes a fragmentary vertical section illustrating the traverse guide of the device of Figs. 5 and 6 and the cam follower by means of which the guide is traversed, and includes also. I a fragmentary planview of this traverse guide;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic side elevation of parts of a controlling device for the winding mechanism of Figs. 5 and 6;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 5, illustrating a traveling spooler and its carrier; and.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the mechanism of Fig. 9.

Frame, guideway and driving connections Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a machine according to the present invention includes a guideway, herein shown as constituted of upper and lower rails 4 and 5, defining a path of circulation for a plurality of unit carriers of strand-manipulating devices. A preferable frame for the machine includes spaced transyersely disposed castings 1 braced by opposite posite end of the frame and guideway preferably being substantially the same, so that a closed path of circulation is provided.

Means for moving the carriersin a procession about the machine is shown, by way of example as including a chain '7 generally parallel to the closed path defined by the upper rail 4, the chain '7 moving on sprocket wheels 8, of which the one shown is driven through a worm gear 10, worm 11, shaft 18, pulley 14, belt 16 and pulley 1'7 from an electric motor 19 or other source of power.

Means is also provided for operating a plurality of motors (usually of high speed) which furnish power for the winding of strands on the various movable'units. In these drawings the motors are shown as being electric motors; ac-' cordingly the operating connections thereto include electrical conductors leading to these motors from a source of electrical energy. Preferably such electrical conductors take the form of rails 40, 41 and 42 disposed to furnish threephase current to the several carriers in various positions of the carriers, whether moving or stationary. shown, these rails are vertically superposed, and are secured to and suitably insulated from the frame or stationary portion of the machine. The length of these rails may be determined by the extent of portions of the guideway on which it is desired that the yarnmanipulating devices of the carriers be energized. In the illustrated machine, provision is made for energizing those circulatory devices which occupy the straight runs of the guideway and for alternatively energizing or deenergizing the devices occupying the semi-circular end portions of the guideway. For this purpose, the end portions 40, 41 and 42 (mainly semicircular in outline) of the rails, are preferably electrically discontinuous from the main or straight portions of these rails. In some instances of operation, the end portions 40 41 and 42 of the conductor rails may be deenergized, thus to stop and start the electrically driven instrumentalities on the, carriers successively as predetermined parts of the path of circulation are reached. In other instances, the end portions 40, 41 and 42 at ,one or both ends'of the machine may be energized by con necting them in parallel with the main portions of the rails 40, 41 and 42, conveniently by means of switches, the switch for this purpose at the illustrated end of the machine being diagrammatically shown at 45.

In certain of the circulatory carriers adapted to be used on this machine for example. some of those shown in said parent application Se- I rial No. 508,868, it is convenient to provide for receiving the electric current from rails near the upper part of the carrier; in other of the carriers, the electric current is more conveniently received near the lower end of the carrier.

'Acordinglythe machine of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is shown as having two duplicate sets of conductor rails so that either of the two sets may be used, as is expedient, or either of the two sets may be dispensed with if only carriers which receive their electric current at the same level are utilized.

Certain of the unit carriers which are adapted to'be used on the presentmachinesinclude, as more fully described in/said application Serial N 0. 508,868, a traverse device adapted to'be reciprocated by mechanism common to the several units of the machine. bly includes on the frame of the machine, a lifter rail 60 (preferably of U-section as shown) Such mechanism preferaextending about the machine and affixed to a plurality of sleeves 61 sliding on vertical guide rods 62 which extend between the rails 4 and 5 at intervals around the machine. For causing the lifter rail to rise and fall, an oscillating shaft '70 may be provided longitudinally of the machine. this shaft having at intervals thereon sprockets '71 adapted as the shaft oscillates to wind up and unwind parts of chains '72 and '73 running over pulleys '12 and 73 and connected to opposite sleeves 6l'of the lifter rail 60. The longitudinal shaft '70 may conveniently be caused to oscillate by the provision thereon of a drum '75 to which is attached and on which runs a chain '76 connected to a lever '17 which is pivoted to the frame at '78 and carries a cam follower '79. A cam driven through gear wheels 81 and 82 from a cross-shaft 83 is adapted to oscillate the lever 77 and hence the shaft '70 and connected lifter rail 60. The cross-shaft 83 may conveniently be driven through a pulley 84, belt 85 and pulley '86 from the motor 19, (Fig. 3). not be used in connection with certain of the circulatory carriers about to be described, and may in those cases be disconnected from the motor 19.

By causing the chain '7, and the lifter rail 60 to derive their operating power from a common motor 19, these devices may be caused to operate in synchronism and be controlled by a single switch, herein indicated diagrammatically at 90. Preferably\the energization of the conductor rails 40, 41iand 42 is simultaneously controlled by this same switch. For stopping and starting the circulation of carriers by the chain 30 independently of the other operations of the machine, the machine preferably includes a beltshifter 91 controlled by foot pedals 92' and adapted to shift the belt 16 from the pulley 14 to a loose pulley 15 and vice versa.

Preferred construction of the circulatory units or carriers As a preliminary to an explanation of the strand manipulating devices of the illustrated circulatory units or carriers, certain common features of these units or carriers will be explained. The general construction of the machine is preferably such that the numerous strand-manipulating units of the machine, each including a unit frame, areindependently supported by the main frame of the machine, are

The above described lifter rail need readily removable therefrom, and are interchangeable. The various units, intended for use in cooperation with frame, guideway and driving parts such as described, may be individually constructed, the various .parts of the unit being affixed thereto, and the unit being tested and adjusted before assembly of the several units on the guideway of the machine. In this way accuracy of manufacture and standardization of the units of the machine may be assured.

Referring to any of Figs. 5,6, 9 and 10, wherein the same reference characters are employed to designate similar parts, the carriers or units of the various machines preferably include an upright unit frame portion 100 bridging the distance between the upper and lower guide rails 4 and 5, and having in association therewith a pair of anti-friction rolls 101, 101 adapted to run on the upper rail 4 and to support the carrier therefrom. (See Fig. 4.) For holding the carrier on the lower rail 5, the lower end of the frame is preferably provided with vertical depending studs 92, 93 on opposite sides of the vertical flange of rail 5, one or both of these studs preferably carrying an anti-friction roller 94 adapted to run on a face of the vertical flange of rail 5. I

The head portion of the unit frame of the carrier is preferably arranged to have limited motion with respect to and to be yieldingly urged toward the upper rail 4, a typical preferred construction for this purpose being shown in Fig. 4. The head portion of the carrier is preferably provided as shown in Fig. 4, with a rearwardly projecting lug 102 above the plane of the rail 4 having pivotally mounted thereon a link 103 which carries an anti-friction roll 104 adapted to bear against the inner face of rail 4. Link 103 is provided with a lug into which is hooked a tractor rod 105 extending through a bore 106 in the head portion of the carrier and provided with a spring 107 adjustable by a nut 108. The spring 107 yieldingly urges the roll-104 toward the head of the carrier and against the inner face of the rail 4. For guiding the unit or carrier around the curved ends of the machine a pair of antifriction rolls 109 are provided on the carrier in positionto bear against the outer face of rail 4 in such case to oppose the action of spring 107.

To enable the carrier to be moved about the machine by the chain 30, a lug 110 is provided on the rear of the head portion of the carrier, having pivotally mounted thereon a tractor link 111 which is in turn pivotally connected to a lateral extension 112 of one of the links of chain 30.

'By first disconnecting this tractor link 111 from its associated chain link 112,-as by removing a suitable pivot pin or the like, the unit constituted of the carrier frame and the strand-manipulating devices thereon may be lifted from the guideway and main frame of the machine. This may be accomplished without disturbing any of the numerous other similar strand-manipulating units of the machine or their driving connections, as will readily be apparent from a consideration of any of the illustrated forms of units. Thus any of the units of the machine may easily and quickly be removed for repair, adjustment or the like, without preventing operation of the remaining units of the machine.

For receiving current from the conductor rails 40, 41 and 42 (and 40, 41 and 42'- if the latter portions are provided and energized) each carrier has mounted thereon three brushes 114, 115 and 116, disposed either to slide along the re- First specific example spective conductor rails of the upper set as in the devices of Figs. 5, 6 and 7, or along the respective conductor rails of the lower set as in the devices of Figs. 9, and 10.

Each of the units or carriers is also shown as provided with an electric drive motor M (preferably of the B-phase type) adapted to operate some or all of the strand-manipulating instrumentalities of the unit, and operable by current received from the above conductor rails and brushes.

of traveling motor driven unit In the device of Figs. and 6, the strandmanipulating function intended to be performed is primarily that of winding a strand from a supply package 8 onto a winding package on a core w in overlapped layers of reversed spiral windings. The winding mechanism of the unit or carrier of Figs. 5 and 6, whether utilized alone or in conjunction with twisting, spinning or drafting strand-delivery mechanism such as described in the parent application, Serial No. 508,868, is capable of operating faster than is expedient or practical with the mechanical forms of package-driving connections constituted of the tractor rolls 50, 51 of United States Letters Patent No. 1,700,425. In the present device, the traveling carrier has thereon an individual motor M, suitable connections therefrom for rotating the winding package, and suitable electrical connections for supplying current to the motor in various positions of the carrier on its guideway.

The carrier frame of Figs. 5 and 6 preferably includes a head portion including opposite side plates 66, 67 carrying therebetween a traverse cam 570 which operates a traverse guide 506. The winding package core is preferably carried by a spindle 572 mounted on a swinging arm 571 which may be associated with a switch 215, as more fully explained below. The side plates 66, 67 are shown as extended to the left' (Fig. 5) a sumcient distance for a short tractor roll 50 to be rotatabLy mounted therebetween in position to support and rotate the winding package core 10 on the spindle 572. 'The casing of the motor M which effects the winding motion of the axially with the roll the motor M being directly connected to the roll by the motor shaft 450. The traverse cam 570 is preferably operated by the motor M'by frictional contact of its cam tires 570 and 5'70 with the surface of the driven roll 50.

Referring to Fig. 7, a polished steel bar 500, united at its ends to the plates 66 and 67 respectively, forms a slideway for a light casting 501 having an opening at 502 for a slide bearing on the bar 500 and provided with a lug 503 bored for a pin 504 having secured to its lower end an arcuate follower 505 engaging the cam groove 570 of the cam 570. Integral with the casting 501 is a yarn guide 506 having lateral cam slopes 506 and a central yarn notch 506.

The head is preferably provided with a sheet metal cover plate 510 which includes a substantially flat horizontal portion overhangin bar 500 and having a straight edge parallel to the axis of the motion of the cam 570. The cover plate also includes a part which slopes downwardly and outwardly as indicated in Figs. 5

strand for slubs, a suitable slub detector, catcher or breaker may conveniently be mounted on the cover plate, suchdevice being shown by wayof example as-constituted of parallel spaced wide. blades 400and401 defining a narrow throat 402 1 for the-passage of the strand but not for undesired imperfections thereon, in the manner described in my application Serial No. 476,776, filed:

August 21, 1930 and in my application Serial No. 4 84,993, filed September 29, 1930. In the form illustrated, this slub catcher is suited to cause breakage of the resultant twisted strand upon. the occurrence of an undesired imperfection therein incapable of being removed by passage through the throat 402 of the slub catcher.

The unit or carrier of Figs. 5 and 6 is shown as provided with brushes 114, 115 and 116 adapted to receive current from the previously described conductor rails 40, 41 and 42, and suitableelectrical connections from the brushes to the switch 215 and motor M.

Means is provided on the carrier for holding,

an unwinding supply package, for example a spindle pin 122 on a bracket 122 which is pivoted to the carrier at 120 so as to be capable of being inverted for doffing as in the device of my above copending application Serial No. 476,776. Preferably means is provided for cutting off the'power of the individual driving motor M, stopping driving of the winding package to, shifting the position of the winding package (in supplement to the normal travel of the package) to a more convenient position for attention by an operator or automatic replenishment, doffing, end-finding or tying-in mechanism, and removing the winding strand from the traversing mechanism, or any of these functions severally, upon the occurrence of an abnormal condition in the winding strand. Such abnormal conditions may consist of breakage or exhaustion of the strand, slack or absence of tension in, the strand or the occurrence of an enlargement such as a slub in the strand, or any other abnormal condition which may be detected by suitable devices responsive thereto. In the preferred illustrated form, the slub catcher constituted of blades 400 and 401 is'eifective to induce breakage of the strand when a slub incapable of being removed by the blades is encountered. A feeler in the form of a wire bail 200, is pivotally mounted on the cover plate 110 of the head so as to be held down by a strand passing from the slub-catcher to the winding package w. Fig. 5 shows the strand brokeg and the feeler in its elevated position. A depending extension 201 of this feeler is suitably connected, as by a wire link 202, to a dog 203 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 204 extending transversely of a shaft 205 which turns in a boss on the head of the carrier. The opposite or outer end of shaft 205 carries a bifurcated arm 206 which receives and is adapted to operate a lifter rod 207 connected at its upper end to the pivoted package-carrying arm 571 of the head. At suitable intervals along the upper rail 4, pins 208 are provided for swinging the dog 203, shaft 205 and arm 206 and thereby operating the lifter rod 207 to swing arm 571 in a clockwise direction from the position of Fig. 5. In the normal operation of the device, the feeler member 200, held down by the strand normally passing to the'winding package, retains the dog 203 75 in an inclined position wherein the pins 208 are cleared; Upon the occurrence of slack, breakage,

exhaustionor a' slub, however, the feeler 200 rises, the dog203 drops to the position of Fig.

5. and. the .lifter rod207 operates to impart to the, winding package a shifting motion supple- "mental to the normal travel of the package in its path, the illustrated device being arranged so that the winding packageis swung through an angle of about 130 in a clockwise direction from .the position of Fig. The electric switch 215, actuable by switch lever 216, is shown as dispos'eddn the electric circuit leading from the brushes 114, 115 and 116 to the motor M. The arm 571 is enabled to operate this switch by the provision on' arm 571 of a switch-actuating arm 217 adapted to move the lever 216 to turn off the switch upon sufficient clockwise movement of the arm 71. Thus in the form of device of Figs. 5 and 6, the current is turned 01f from the motor M upon the occurrence of abnormal conditions in the winding strand.

Means is preferably provided for controlling the motor M in accordance with the attained size of the winding package, and such means may include certain of the connections serving to control the switch 216. In the normal growth of the winding package, the package-carrying arm 571 and switch-actuating arm 217 are gradually moved in a clockwise direction by the increase in diameter of the package. When the "package attains a predetermined size, the switchactuating arm 216 will actuate the switch 215 to turn off the current to motor M. By mounting the switch-actuating arm 216 for angular adjustment on the package-carrying arm 571, for example by means of screws 230 and 231 passing through arcuate slots 232 and 233 on the switch-actuating arm, (this feature being best shown in Fig. 5) the device may be accurately set to operate the switch upon the attainment by the winding package of any desired size. When the package attains a predetermined size and the motor M has ceased to operate, the non-rotation of the unwinding package S serves to indicate to an operator that the winding package of that carrier is full.

Obviously the means for cutting off the power of motor M may be simplified'by connecting the feeler 200, or whatever detector it is desired to use, directly to a motor controlling switch. In addition the devices for stopping driving of the winding package by moving it away from its roll 50 and for removing the winding strand from'its traverse device may be utilized separately from such means for controlling the motor M, such devices apart from their cooperation with such motor-controlling means being herein illustrated in the forms described and claimed in my above application, Serial No. 476,776.

The machine may also be capable of cutting off the power of the individual driving motor M, stopping the driving of the winding package and its core w, shifting the position of the winding package to a more convenient position for attention thereto and removing the winding strand from the traversing mechanism, or any of these functions severally, upon the attainment by the individual carrier of a predetermined part of its circulatory path. The parts described above as controlled by the feeler 200 and link 202 for performance of these functions upon the occurrence of abnormal conditions in actuated when the carrier attainsa predeterminedpart of its path. Referring particularly to Fig. 2, the upperrail 4 of the guideway may have thereon at any desired point a pin 219 similar to the previously described pins 208 but long enough to contact with and actuate the dogs 203 of the carriers even when the dogs are held out away from the rail by the normal winding of the strands. The motors M of the several carriers may also be stopped by the carrier current brushes of the carrier passing onto deenergized .end sections of 40, 41 and 42 'of the current conductor rails.

The frame of the machine (Figs. 2 and 3) is shown by way of example as provided with one of the above described pins 219, at a point on the rail 4 lying between the ends of the energized straight portions of conductor rails 40, 41, 42 by means of which pin the abovedxcribed controlling functions may be performed in respect to the several carriers at a point at which the conductor rails 40, 41, 42

would otherwise cause the motor M to be driven.

It will readily be apparent that the operations of cutting oi the power act the individual driving motor M, stopping the rotation of the winding package w, shifting the winding package to a more convenient position for attention thereto, and removing the winding strand from the traversing mechanism, may be initiated manually by merely lifting the package-carrying arm 571, regardless of the position of the carrier or of the condition of the winding strand.

Means is preferably provided for automatically starting the, individual driving motor M, starting the winding package 10, and restoring the winding strand, or a replenished supply strand substituted therefor, into operative relation to the traversing mechanism, so that the winding and unwinding operations may automatically be resumed after stoppage in, any of the ways explained above. The controlling device, preferably including as described above, the dog 203, shaft 205, arm 206, lifter rod 207, packagecarrylng arm 571, switch-actuating arm 217 and switch 215, may be actuated for accomplishing such resumption of operation by the provision of a suitable upper pin 220 disposed at any desired point on the rail 4 in position to detain the upper portion of dog 203, thus to operate these parts in the reverse direction from that previously described. As shown in Fig. 8, the dog 203 is provided with a curved cam-surface 203 on one side, which is brought uppermost when the dog has been swung by a lower pin 208 or 219. In this position this cuiwed surface 203 is in position to strike the above-described upper pin 220 and swing the dog 203 in a counterclockwise direction. Through movement of the dog in this direction, the shaft 205, arm 206, lifter rod 207, package-carrying arm '71,

switch-actuating arm 217 and switch 215 areoperated to restore the package into its usual winding position, restore the strand into position to be picked up by the traverse eye 506, and to energize the motor M of the carrier unit. A starting pin 220 may for example be located at the point indicated in Fig. 3, to start winding on the passing carriers at about that point. The various pins 208, 219 and 220 are preferably deta'chably affixed at convenient points about the machine; their positions may thus be altered to' suit the requirements of inspection, control and replenishment for a given length of machine, kind and length of strand being handled and character of operation being performed thereon. These pins may be removed when the carrier units of Figs. 9 and 10 are employed.

Second specific example of traveling motor driven unit The device of Figs. 9 and 10 includes a motor M mounted on the frame of the traveling unit and adapted to rotate a spindle 130; herein shown as detachably carrying a suitable strand receiver in the form of a spool 131. Conveniently, the casing of the motor M may be mounted on a horizontal extension or bracket 420, through which the bolster B for the spindle and -motor shaft may extend. As illustrated, the

carrier is provided with two similar motors M each operating a spool spindle 130..

The device of Figs. 9 and 10 includes suitable means for traversing the strands as they approach the receiving spools 131 such means preferably including a bracket 421 movable through the vertical extent of the spool and carrying thereon a suitable slub-catching blade 423, and a tension device including upper and lower disk elements 424 and 425. The upper disk may be suitably weighted by detachable weights 426 fitting on a vertical pin 425. For suitably reciprocating the brackets 421 (and their retained slub-catching and tensioning elements) to traverse the strand, the brackets 421 may conveniently be fastened to a cross-arm 429 in turn carried by a curved arm 430 fast on a vertical rod 431 sliding in suitable bearings 433' and 434 on horizontal extensions of the vertical member 99. A rearwardly or inwardly extending arm 435 extending through a vertical slot 436 in member 99 carries a roll 13'7 adapted to engage the previously described U-shaped lifter rail 60 in all positions of the carrier on the guideway. Thus as the carrier progresses around its circuitous path, the operation of the lifter rail 60 results in the strands being traversed with respect to the winding spools.

In the illustrated device, the vertically movable arm 435 is provided with dependin'g bracket arms 440, 441 having pivotally mounted therein a shaft 442 carrying a bracket 443 for supporting a spindle pin 122. Pin 122 is normally yieldingly retained in its approximately vertical position as shown, by the provision of a spring 445, which acts between an arm 446 fast on shaft 442 and a suitable abutment member 447 on arm 435.

Means is preferably provided for dofling a strand carrier core from the holder constituted of the .pin 122, such means preferably including an arm 449 fast on the shaft 442, and a suitable abutment such as a pin 450 detachably mounted on one of the slides 61, preferably just in advance of the operatorsend of the machine. As the carrier reachesthe slide carrying the abutment pin 450, this pin strikes and temporarily retains the lower end of lever 449, thus tilting the lever, shaft 442, arm 443 and pin 122 through a suflicient angle to permit the bobbin on pin 122' to drop off bygravity. Thus each of the carriers may be presented to the operator that the lever and pin will engage regardless of the. vertical position occupied by the lever at the time the pin is reached.

Conclusion In concluding this explanation of the invention, it may be observed that in both specific ex amples of the invention the desired traveling movement of the packages during winding can be obtained without the limitations and requirements hitherto encountered when long tractor rolls were used. The winding units can if desired operate while running around either or both ends of the machine. The necessity for accurately aligned long rolls and bearings therefor is avoided. It is thus easy to construct and operate a machine having a longer traveling path and more winding units than heretofore. Moreover, the winding speed of the several units can be substantially increased without sacrifice of the advantageous circulatory traveling movement of the winding packages.

Further, as exemplified by the form of device of Figs. 5 to '7, the traveling motors and electrical connections are particularly adapted for the individual control of the numerous winding operations which take place simultaneously as the winding'packages travel. Thus in the device illustrated, the drive motor for any traveling unit can be stopped automatically at any place in the traveling path at which breakage or exhaustion of the strand may happen to occur.

In addition, as exemplified by the form of device of Figs. 9 and 10, the invention solves the special problem of providing eflicient and positive driving means for a plurality of traveling winding packages which are disposed with their axes vertical or perpendicular to their line of travel. I

My copendin'g application Serial No. 508,868, of which this application is a division, now claims certain combinations involving the structure here disclosed with the addition of other structureproviding for the carrying on of spinning, twisting, and drafting'operations.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A winding machine having therein means for moving a winding strand mass and an unwinding strand mass in a predetermined path about the machine, means including a motor movable along said path with said strand masses for winding the strand from one mass onto the other, and means for supplying power to said motor in various positions in said path.

2. A winding machine having therein means for moving a winding strand mass and an unwinding strand mass in a predetermined path about the machine, means including an electric motor movable along said path with said strand masses for winding the strand from one mass onto the other, and means for supplying electric current to said motor in various positions in said path.

3. A textile machine having therein means for moving a plurality of winding strand masses and unwinding strand supply masess therefor in a predetermined path about the machine, means including electric motors circulating with the pairs of masses for winding the strand from one mass to the other of the several pairs, detectors of abnormal conditions in the several winding strands, switches for stopping the several motors, and means for operating said switches severally upon detection of abnormal conditions by any of the detectors.

4. A textile machine having therein means for circulating a plurality of winding strand masses and unwinding strand supply masses therefor in a predetermined path about the machine, means including electric motors circulating with the pairs of masses for winding the strand from one mass to the other of the several pairs, electric switches for stopping the several motors, and means for automatically operating the switch of any of the pairs to stop winding when the winding mass of the pair attains a predetermined size.

5. A textile machine having therein means for moving a winding mass of strand along a predetermined path, a motor moving with said mass for rotating the mass to wind a strand thereon, means for shifting the mass in supplement to said motion when the mass attains a predetermined point in said path, and means acting as a consequence of said shifting of the mass to stop said motor.

6. A textile machine having therein means for moving a winding mass of strand along a predetermined path, a motor moving with said mass for rotating the mass to wind a strand thereon, means for shifting the mass in supplement to said motion when the mass attains a predetermined point in said path, and means acting as a consequence of said shifting of th mass to start said motor. 4

7. A textile machine having therein means for circulatinga winding mass of strand in a predetermined path, a motor circulating with the mass for rotating the mass to wind strand thereon, and stop and start mechanism for the motor, said mechanism including a controlling switch for the motor, a movable holder for the winding package, means for shifting the holder in opposite directions during a circuit of the winding mass about said path, and means whereby such shifting of the holder operates the switch to stop and start the motor.

8. A textile machine having therein means for circulating a plurality of pairs of winding strand masses and unwinding strand supply masses therefor in a predetermined path about the machine, means including electric motors circulating with the pairs of masses for winding the strand from one mass to the other of the several pairs, and means for stopping the motors severally when the several pairs reach a predetermined part of the said path.

9. A textile machine having therein means for circulating a plurality of pairs of winding strand masses and unwinding strand supply masses therefor in a predetermined path about the machine, means including electric motors circulating with the pairs of masses for winding the strand from one mass to the other of the several pairs, and means for starting the motors severally when the several pairs attain a predetermined part of the said path.

10. A textile machine having therein means for circulating a plurality of pairs of winding strand masses and unwinding strand supply, masses therefor in a predetermined path about the machine, means including electric motors circulating with the pairs of masses for winding the strand from one mass to the other of the several pairs, and stationary electric conducting means adapted to supply operating current to said motors in a part only of the said path of circulation of the masses.

ii. A textile machine having therein means for circulating a winding strand mass and an unwinding strand supply mass in a predetermined path about the machine, means including a drive motor circulating with the winding and unwinding masses for transferring the strand from one mass to the other, means acting as a consequence of the occurrence of abnormal conditions in the winding strand for stopping the motor, and means for restarting the motor when the strand attains a predetermined part of said path.

12. A textile machine having therein va pluralty of carriers for winding and unwinding strand masses, means for moving the carriers in a predetermined path, means. for winding strands from the unwinding masses onto'the winding masses duing such motion, said winding means including strand traverse devices on the several carriers, and motors on the carriers adapted to drive the-several traverse devices during movement of the carriers.

13. A textile machine having therein a carrier for a winding and an unwinding strand mass, a guideway defining a circulatory path of travel for the carrier, means for winding the strand from the unwinding to the winding strand mass, a quick-traverse device causing the winding strand to lie on the winding mass in overlappedlayers of reversed spiral windings, a motor on the carrier acting to drive the quicktraverse device, means for moving the carrier along the guideway, and means for operating the motor during such movement of the carrier.

14. A textile machine having therein a carrier adapted to hold a winding and an unwinding strand package, a guideway defining a path for the carrier, said path having curved and straight portions, means for moving the carrier along said path, in combination with a rotatable driving element on the carrier adapted to rotate the winding package by frictional contact with the surface of the package, and means operable to rotate the said driving member while the carrier occupies a curved portion and straight portions of the guideway.

15. A textile machine having therein means for'moving a winding. and an unwinding strand package in a predetermined path, and a rotatable driving element movable in said path with the winding package and adapted to rotate the winding package by frictional contact with the surface of the package, in combination with a motor movable in said .path with the strand packages and the rotatable driving element for.

rotating said driving element.

16. A textile machine having therein means for moving a winding and an unwinding strand package in a predetermined path, a rotatable driving element movable in said path with the winding package and adapted to rotate the winding package by frictional contact with the surface of the package, and a traverse device movable in said path and adapted to be driven by said rotatable driving element to traverse a strand winding on the package.

1'7. A textile machine having therein means for moving a'winding and an unwinding strand package in a predetermined path, a rotatable strand winding on the package, and a motor movable in said path with the strand packages and rotatable driving element for rotating said driving element.

v 18. A textile machine having therein means for winding a strand to form a package, an electric motor for operating said winding means, means for moving the motor and winding means in a predetermined path, and electric connections including a conductor rail disposed along said path and a brush movable with the motor, for operating the motor in various positions in said path.

19. In a textile machine of the type having a carrier for a winding pair and means for moving the carrier in a predetermined path, a live spindle for one strand mass of the winding pair and a holder for the other strand mass of the winding pair, a motor on the carrier for rotating the live spindle, and means for operating the motor in various positions of the carrier in said path.

20. A textilemachine having therein means for moving a winding strand package in a predetermined path, means for winding a strand on the package during such motion, traverse means including. a rotating element movablein said path with the package for distributing the winding strand on the package, a detector responsive to the occurrence of an abnormal condition in the winding strand, and means actuable by said detector for stopping said traverse means.

21. A textile machine having therein a carrier for a winding and an unwinding strand package, means for moving the carrier in a predetermined path, a rotatable driving element on the carrier adapted to rotate the winding package by frictional contact with the surface of the package, and a motor coaxial with the rotatable driving element and coupled thereto.

22. A textile machine having therein a carrier for a winding and an unwinding strand package, means for moving the carrier in a predetermined path, a rotatable driving element on the carrier adapted to rotate the winding package by frictional contact with the surface of the package, a motor coaxial with the rotatable driving element and coupled thereto, and strand traversing means operated by said rotatable driving element.

23. A textile machine having therein a carrier for a winding and an unwinding strand package, means for moving the carrier in a predetermined path, a rotatable holder for the winding package, and a motor coaxial with and coupled to said rotatable holder.

EDWARD J. ABBOTT. 

